Lubricator



R. H. YALE LUBRICATOR Sept. 18 1923.

Original Filed Feb. 13. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 18 1923,

2 Shets-Sheer. 2

Original Filed Feb. 13, 1920 III /fil' Patented Sept. 18 192".

ii an 1351i "tar RODNEY H, YALE, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOB TO YALE AND HOPEVVELL COMPANY, 013 LINCO IJ V, NEBRASKA, A CQBPORATION 01E NEBRASKA.

LUBRICATOR.

August 24, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RODNEY H. Yarn, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and resident of Lincoln," Lancaster County, State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Lubricators, or which the following is a specification (a division of my application S. No. 858,886, filed Feb. 13, 19:20, for lubricators) This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to lubricators and relates particularly to lubricators for Windmill pump or'pitman rods; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be thepreferred mechanical expression or embodiment of my invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope thereof.

It is an object of. the invention to provide for the lubrication of the pump or piston rod of a windmill or the like, by means of mass or bodyof grease of considerable size which is fed by the movement of the rod therein and by gravity to the bearing surfaces of the rod in sufiicient quantities to lubricate the same without the necessity of replacing the mass of grease or inspecting.

the bearing surfaces for a comparatively long period of time.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lubricator for the pump or pitrnan rod of a windmill, or the like, which consists of a grease container of considerable size arranged so that an end portion of the rod worksjin the lower portion of a body of.

grease in the container, whereby a suliicient quantity of lubricant is fed by gravity to the bearing surfaces of the rod, without such excessive supply as to cause overflow of used grease into the body of the mass in the container.

With these and other ,objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features in construction or in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

1 Referring to the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevation showing in part a Divided and this ap li u filgd Serial No. 405,646. A

windmill head equipped with a lubricator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail'longitudinal section of my pump or pitman rod lubricator.

Fig. 3is a detail elevation thereof.

In the drawings I show an embodiment of my invention applied to a windmill'of a type well known in the art, but I donot desire to limit the invention to the construction and arrangement of the embodimentdisclosed, nor to its application to thetype of windmill illustrated. It is clear that the invention may be applied to other types ofwindmills and machines generally, and may assume other constructions, forms and combinations and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the particular example illustrated for purposes of explanation, I show the upper part of a windmill tower or other suitable supporting frame 1 carrying the base 2, on which the windmill head or turn table is mounted, in any suitable or usual manner.

The windmill headembodies a'vertical tubular portion?) providing an upper vertical, vertically elongated casting or other shaft.

The usual wind or driving wheel 9, is

mounted on the outer projecting end of the shaft and the crank disk orcrank 10 is carried on the inner projecting end of said shaft. A wrist pin 17 is carried by the crank disk 10 and is journaled in the lower end of the pitman 18. The upper end of thepitman 18 receives a stud shaft or wrist pin 19 fixed to and projecting laterally from the pump or pitinan rod 5, in the open side of the vertically elongated guide or slideway l. The rotation of the driving wheel 9 rotates the crank disk 10 and through wrist pin 17, pitman 18 and stud shaft 19, vertically reciprocates the pump or pitman rod 5 in the guidwa'yl;

In the particular windmill illustrated, the upper end of the rod 5 extends upwardly from its guidw'ay 4 and projects a distanee thereabove. The present invention provides for the automatic lubrication of the bearing surfaces of the slide or guidway 4E and reciprocating rod 5, for a long period of time with a single charge of grease, as will be fully described and explained hereinafter.

I mount a grease container or box 25 on the tubular head or upper end of guide 4 and in upward longitudinal continuation thereof, so that said box encloses said projecting upper end of reciprocating rod 5 and so that said rod reciprocates in the grease in said box. I also arrange the vertically unobstructed grease receiving interior of the box 25 in upwardcontinuation of and in open communication with the interior of guide 4:.

The upper end of guide 4t is formed with a depressed seat 4 located in its enlarged upper end and SUlTOLlIlCllIlg and open to the longitudinal bore of said guide head. In this depressed seat a is located a felt or other flexible material washer at that surrounds the reciprocating rod 5. The upper end head of the tubular guide a provides exterior downwardly facing shoulders 4.

The box 25 is composed. of a vertically elongated tubular casing having a removable top cap 26, and at its lower end provided with a head 27 having a central opening alined with the bore of guide 4 and loosely receiving the reciprocating rod 5. The top surface 27 of this head that forms the floor of the box preferably flares upwardly and outwardly from said opening to direct the lubricant inwardly toward the reciprocating rod. The lubricant box is seated on the upper end of the head of guide 4 and is removably clamped thereto.

For instance, I show the bottom head of the box formed with depending annular flange 27* formed. to enter the annular top depression in the guide head and seat on the flexible washer l Said box head is also formed with diametrically opposite exterior rigid outwardly and inwardly curving depending arms 27. having upwardly and. in-

,wardly inclined tapped holes through their lower ends and receiving clamping screws 28 adapted to abut the shoulders 4: of the guide head to clamp the box head down on the top edge of the guide head and to force the flange 27" down on the washer 4: The lower ends of the arms 27 can be spaced apart to clear the enlarged upper end of the guide head and permit vertical removal and application of the lubricant box, when the clamp screws are withdrawn outwardly through the tapped holes therefor in said arms or so that the box can be elevated until its flange 27' clears the upper endof the If desired, the grease box can be provided with one or more'inlets 26 to the space in the box above the grease, to insure atmospheric pressure in the box above the grease and prevent vertical movement of the mass of grease with the pump or pitman rod 5 and to insure udownward settling of the grease to maintain close contact with the red.

The. clamping bolts 28 hold the box 25 rigid with the guide l as the lower end of the box is held clamped. tightly to and against the top edge of the top head of the guide. V r

After charging the container or box 25 the lubricant is automatically fed to the bearing surfacesof the rod 5 and the guideway 4, by the movement of the upper end of the rod 5 in the lower portion of the mass or body of lubricant and by gravi ,y assisted by the atmospheric pressure exerted on the mass through the air inlets 26 The washer 4 fitting around the rod 5 prevents an excessive supply of-lubricant feeding to the bearing surfaces. Further the feed is such that only such quantity of lubricant reaches the bearing surfaces as will effectively lubricate the same and all objectionable dripping and overflow from the lower ends of the bearing surfaces is overcome.

It is evident that various changes, variations and modifications might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence Ido not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosures hereof.

Desiring to protect my invention in the broadest manner legally, possible, what I claim is: Y

1. In combination, anupright slideway or guide, a bar reciprocatory in said guide and projecting upwardly therefrom, an uprighta gravity-feed grease supply box enclosing said projecting end of the bar and at its lower end mounted on the upper end of said guide and rising therefrom, the lower end of said box being open alignment withthe' open upper end of the guideway of said guide to receive said bar. 7

2. Incombination, an upright guide, a bar reciprocating therein, and projecting upwardly therefrom, flexible material inset in the upper end of said guide'and surrounding said bar, a gravity-feed grease supply box having a bottom opening surrounded by a depending flange, said box enclosing said projecting end of thefb'ar and being mounted on and rising from said guide, said flange beingseated onsaid material, and

means for'clamping the bo'x'to and on the 7 guide. i

3. In combination, anupright guide at its upper portion having an exterior downwardlyfacing shoulder, a barreciprocating in said guide and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a gravity-feed grease supply box rising from said guide and enclosing the upwardly projecting portion of said bar, said box having a bottom opening receiving said bar, the lower end of said box being seated on said guide, said box having depending spaced arms depending at the exterior of said guide and carrying clamping screws to abut said shoulder and draw and clamp the box to the guide.

4. In combination, an upright slideway or guide, a bar reciprocatory in said guide and projecting upwardly therefrom, and means for lubricating said bar and guide which consists of a comparatively large body of lubricant held above the guide and fed thereto by gravity and atmospheric pressure applied at the upper portion of the body of lubricant.

5. In combination, an upright slideway or guide, a bar reciprocatory in said guide and projecting upwardly therefrom, and means for lubricating said bar and guide comprising a grease container of comparatively large capacity mounted above said guide and receiving the upper end of said bar in the lower portion of a mass of grease contained therein, whereby lubricant is fed to the bar and guide by gravity 6. In combination, an upright slideway or guide, a bar mounted for reciprocation in said guide and having its end extending upwardly therefrom, a grease box mounted on the upper end of said guide and receiving the upwardly extending end of said bar, the lower end of said box loosely fitting around said bar whereby a mass of grease contained in the box is fed by gravity be tween said bar and box to the bearing surfaces of the bar and guide.

7. In combination, an upright guide, a bar reciprocating therein, flexible material inset in said guide and surrounding said bar, a gravity-feed grease supply box having a bottom opening surrounded by a depending flange, said box being mounted on and rising from said guide, said flange being seated on said material, and means for clamping the box to and on the guide.

8. In combination, an upright slideway or guide. a bar reciprocatory in said guide and projecting upwardly therefrom, and means for lubricating said bar and guide which consists of a container for a comparatively large body of lubricant fed to the bar by gravity and atmospheric pressure applied at the upper portion of the body of lubricant and surrounding the rod.

9. In combination, an upright slideway or guide, a bar reciprocatory in said guide, and means for lubricating said guide comprising a grease container of comparatively large capacity mounted on said guide and open to said bar so that the bar works in thelower portion of a mass of grease in said container whereby lubricant is fed to the bar and guide by gravity and the bar is surrounded by grease.

10. Means for lubricating a windmill reciprocatory rod or pitman and its guide, embodying an open-bottom gravity-feed grease container having a bottom opening into the guide so arranged that the rod is surrounded by a mass of grease, the mass of grease beingv held to and surrounding the rod by gravity.

11. Means for lubricating the bearing surfaces of the guide for the reciprocatory pump rod of a windmill for a long length of time without replenishing, comprising a vertically arranged grease box having a bottom outlet to said bearing surfaces and con structed and arranged to receive a body of grease and cause said body to bear against the pump rod and radually settle by gravity as the bearing surfaces are supplied without reuse of worn grease discharged from said bearing surfaces, said box being open for entrance of air above'the body of grease, and having an open top and a removable cover normally closing said top.

12. Means for lubricating the bearing surfaces of the guide for the reciprocatory pump rod of a windmill for a long period of time without replenishing, comprising a vertically arranged grease box having a bottom outlet, the bottom floor of the box ta pering down to said outlet to direct the grease inwardly against the pump rod from all sides, said box constructed and arranged to receive a large supply of grease and to permit the same to gradually settle by gravity as the bearing surfaces are supplied clownwardly through said opening, means being provided to secure said box on the'upper end of the pump rod guide with the rod pro jecting upwardly and working in the grease in the box.

13. Means for lubricating the bearing surfaces of the pump rod guide of a windmill. comprising the guide having an annular packing washer seat at its upper end, a packing washer thereon, a reciprocatory pump rod working through said washer, and an "upright grease box fitted in and rising from said guide and having a bottom opening over said washer and receiving said rod, said box having an open top and a cover normally covering the same, said box internally formed to receive a mass of grease and permit the same to gradually settle by gravity down through said bottom opening and 15. A grease box for application. to the pumping rod guide of a windmillysaid box formed to seat on and longitudinally interlock with said guide and having a bottom grease outlet co-receive said rod. and'depending exterlor arms providedwith clamp ing screws, said box internally constructed and arranged to receive a mass of grease and permit gradual settling thereof in the box and through said outlet as the bearing surfaces are supplied.

' RODNEY H. YALE. 

